Join the fun near Camp Nelson. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Camp Nelson. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your California camping adventure.
$34 - $36 / night
"Beautiful drive up campground with a really friendly camp host. Vault toilets, but the cleanest vault toilets I’ve used in CA. River runs through the camp and there’s a little swimming hole."
"Nice trails to explore. Husband caught a nice trout. There’s a decent swimming hole. Vault toilets. A few water spigots scattered throughout the campground."
$34 - $36 / night
"Sites are pretty nicely spaced out and almost all sites have shade. The lsites are not as close to the river as Brush Creek campground, but still closer than Fairview, which is down the road."
"Most sites have trees for shade. We were in one (12) that didn’t, but we moved our chairs to a shaded space between sites. The paved pad is above the area with the table and fire ring."
"If you want privacy this is it. You are definitely alone."
"This camping site is a nice free area super close to the Giants Trail entrance (5 minute drive). As you head in you go thru a little dirt road and at the end you see an opening for this site."
"Plenty of space for a small trailer to maneuver.
Highly recommend. Perfect for an off-road trailer or overland setup."
"Please make sure to pack all your trash that is the reason it’s been closed so many people leaving toilet paper everywhere. Dig a hole and do your business in that hole only lol."
$60 - $70 / night
"Plenty of beginner trails and historical trees that seem have been there forever and always will be"
"There is a creek right behind your camp and it’s so nice hearing it at night. You get to see lots of wildlife; owls, squirrels, foxes, coyotes, bears and lots of footprints of small game."
$32 / night
"To access the campground, you drive across a bridge and locate the camp site that you want (first-come, first-served). Tent camping only."
"Recommend getting a site not directly by the bathrooms because they are vault toilets and the smell tends to drift."
TravelerGreat location, centrally located for exploring both Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks.
Nicely shaded spots and the higher elevation is nice for cooler nights during the hot summer months.
Great views of the sunset from the back of the campground.
Grant Grove Village is very close by with market and restaurant.
We stayed in site 32 which was probably the worst spot in the campground. Very hilly spot with one flat spot for a tent right next to neighbors picnic table and fire pit. Both 32 & 34 are tent only spots and right on top of each other. The other sites nearby were much more flat and looked much nicer.
TravelerWe camped at site 13 between 2/12 and 2/14. There were restrooms and a large sink that is useful to dump bear attracting water located pretty close.
The campsite itself is fairly large. I would say it lends itself more to tent camping than car or RTT camping. The site is located on a significant slope, this includes the paved parking area and the grass. There are a fire pit, bear box and picnic table located at the site. Be wary, when we went there were numerous large holes that were definitely a trip hazard.
While there were rangers and employees of the park driving around, there were no actual rangers at the kiosk. Additionally, there wasn't a reservation list posted.
ScoutThis was a beautiful campground. The only thing negative I could say about this campground is that a lot of the campsites are very close to each other. But if you choose wisely, as my friend and I did, then I have no complaints. Surrounded by trees and wildlife, we were visited by deer and entertained by a family of quails as we sat around our fire. Our campsite had a fire ring with a grill, two picnic tables and a bear box. The restrooms, which had flush toilets, were clean and well maintained. There was potable water near our campsite and an additional bear box was nearby if needed. There were also trash bins, including separate waste bins for recycling glass and plastics nearby. There was no cell reception in the campground but there was a pay phone next to the ranger station where you check into camp. Though I do not know if it was in working condition so I would not rely on it. If you were planning on hiking to some of the less traveled spots in the park, this campground was nice because there were several trails that you could access from within the campground.
GuideLovely campground! Stayed with a small group at site 35, which is a large site with a parking area that can fit 3 cars/SUVs. We set up 3 large tents, 2 hammocks, plus a lot of cooking equipment, and still had room for more! There's a trail that leads down to the creek right from the site, which we used each day to cool down in the water. Very dog friendly- our group's pups enjoyed themselves too. Vault toilets are clean and the toilet paper was abundant. The price of $17/night (plus$5 for additional cars) is very reasonable. Used a bit of the non-potable water and came prepared with lots of drinking water from home. Was a pleasant temperature in the high 80s with a regular breeze.
Now for the downsides…it was extremely buggy;. Even with multiple types of bug spray and a Thermacell, we got bit by mosquitos and various flies all throughout the day. Plus, there are really big beetles that flew on us at night. Wish we had a big bug net over the picnic table or other areas, but at least the hammock was covered. There were also noisy neighbors- one group had a bunch of ATVs they started riding at 8am, and another was shooting guns. No cell service, but that was expected, so we brought satellite devices for emergencies.
TravelerTim is amazing! He has all the info on nearby trails, maps of the area, answers every question you can think of. Just fantastic.
As of 6/22/25:
This campground is so peaceful, and near several hiking trails. Would 100% come back here again.
ScoutThis is a walk-in campground designed primarily for the backpackers who use this as a jumping off point for trips. There are campsites spread around the meadow with picnic tables and bear boxes.The campsites are spread well apart under the pines. The parking encircles the large, flat meadow. The area is just gorgeous. It’s a great spot to get away from summer heat at 10,000 feet. Vault toilets, water spigots. Lots of hiking.
LegendBeautiful small campground at the foot of the mountains, easily accessed from the small town of Independence and about 45 min drive north to Bishop.
Campground is currently open (March), but in winter operation mode. No water, no host, no firewood, and no fees. Campground open date is April 25, not sure when winter season starts. Price is $25 when open.
There are toilets but they are closed at this time and there are porta potties instead.
There are trash bins that are unlocked, but the website says that there is no trash service during the winter season so be prepared to pack out your trash if needed.
Each site has a picnic table, a fire ring, and a bear box. Some sites have a cool rock oven/stove. Each site has a unique configuration, some being more private and surrounded by brush, and some more out in the open.
A really nice small creek runs behind the campground.
We arrived on a Monday in late March and had the entire place to ourselves for a night. The next day several other campers showed up.
Cell service is very iffy, especially for Verizon and T-Mobile. AT&T mostly had 1-2 bars of 4G. However, just a few miles down the road on the way to Independence there is excellent service from all carriers.
Really nice campground. $25 seems a bit high but this would be a great place to stay while exploring the surrounding mountains.
LegendThis is a really cool little campground near the entrance of Sequoia National Park. The sites are tent only, so no hookups or anything like that. Pretty nice sites though, a lot of space. I think there can be fire restrictions in the summer since it can get so dry, so just be aware of that. As far as places go, it wasn't too pricey. I think we paid about $20 a night. There are bathrooms with running water, and the sites have picnic tables and fire rings. Each site also has storage lockers for your food, so be sure to lock it up in order to keep the bears from getting into it.
As for stuff to do around here, you obviously have to check out the trees. Go look at General Sherman and all the other Sequoia trees. They're so amazing and honestly it humbles you a little. Also check out Moro Rock Trail. The view from the top is amazing. You'll also probably see a fair amount of wildlife while you're hiking around, so be careful of the bears. Out of all my trips to California, I've seen the most bears here in Sequoia. They are super cool creatures, just keep a respectful distance and of course don't feed them.
RangerWhile I did not camp here, I did drive through and checked out the sites.
I was looking to get a bit further on my driving or I would have happily set up camp.
I even picked out the site I would have set up camp. 26, huge stump of a tree, bear boxes, fire rings, picnic tables, water on site, flush toilets. Nice sites for sure.
Some sites are right on top of each other and others are a bit more spread apart. Drive around and check them all out.
In Mid Sept there were only a handful of campers and the majority were in campers just a few tent campers.
Tent camping near Camp Nelson, California, offers a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying the stunning landscapes of the Sequoia National Forest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Camp Nelson, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Camp Nelson, CA is Sequoia National Forest Belknap Campground with a 3.8-star rating from 6 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 44 tent camping locations near Camp Nelson, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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